StorSimple https://docs.microsoft.com/archive/blogs/storsimple/feed.xml Wed, 17 Apr 2019 03:25:43 GMT en-US hourly 1 StorSimple and Intel Meltdown & Spectre https://docs.microsoft.com/archive/blogs/storsimple/storsimple-and-intel-meltdown-spectre Tue, 09 Jan 2018 21:54:56 GMT https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/storsimple/?p=145 StorSimple appliances are closed systems designed specifically for the single purpose of being a storage appliance. As such, they do not expose any exploitable vulnerability related to Intel Meltdown and Intel Spectre issues. This applies to all StorSimple appliances including: 5000 series, 7000 series, 8000 series, and Virtual Array 1200. ]]> StorSimple 5000/7000 Series: Software Update (Software Version 2.1.1.548) Now Available https://docs.microsoft.com/archive/blogs/storsimple/storsimple-50007000-series-software-update-software-version-2-1-1-548-now-available Tue, 01 Nov 2016 01:26:13 GMT https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/storsimple/?p=135 software update for StorSimple 5000 and 7000 series appliances, version 2.1.1.548 is now available for download. The following enhancements were introduced in this StorSimple release:
  • Automated space reclamation optimization – When data is deleted on thinly provisioned volumes, the unused storage blocks need to be reclaimed. This release has improved the space reclamation process from the cloud resulting in the unused space becoming available faster as compared to the previous versions.
  • Improvements and bug fixes have been made to the driver software.
Some features of previous update (version 2.1.1.500 and 2.1.1.518) which are included in this release are:
  1. Support for Migration from 5000/7000 series  to 8000 series applianceImproved feature offerings of the 8000 series appliances include efficient centralized management of multiple appliances through StorSimple Manager service, better class of hardware and updated firmware, virtual appliances, data mobility as well as features in the future roadmap. With this release, you can export an encrypted configuration file from their 5000-7000 series appliance, enabling migration to StorSimple 8000 series appliance. The file can be encrypted by a user-supplied or an automatically generated key.
  2. Support for latest Microsoft Azure Storage APIStorSimple 5000/7000 series devices using software versions older than 2.1.1.500 use a version of the Azure Storage Services APIs older than February 12, 2012. Versions 2.1.1.500 onwards contain an upgrade to the latest version of the Storage service APIs. We strongly recommend upgrading to the latest software version, 2.1.1.518, to gain the benefits of the new features and improvements in this version.
  3. Support for Azure ZRS (Zone redundant storage)StorSimple 5000/7000 series now supports Azure storage accounts created with the ‘Zone Redundant’ replication option. Zone-redundant storage replicates your data across two to three facilities, either within a single region or across two regions, providing higher durability than Locally Redundant Storage (LRS), at a lower cost point per unit of storage than the Geo-Redundant Storage (GRS) offering. More information on Azure Storage Redundancy Options is available as part of MSDN documentation here.
  Note:
  1. Version v2.1.1.548 is a software only release and there is no Firmware upgrade patch associated with it as previous release. The most up-to-date firmware version continues to be v2.1.1.461. There is a link to this firmware version in the upgrade guide for software version v2.1.1.548. If you are unsure which firmware version is installed on your appliance, running the 2.1.1.461 upgrade is recommended. If the firmware is already the latest version, re-running the upgrade will not cause any issues. The upgrade process will detect that the latest version is already installed and will make no changes.
  2. Version v2.1.1.548 is compatible only with v2.1.1.500 and above and not compatible with previous versions of Appliance software as it contains a metadata change. For example, if your appliance is on v2.1.1.548 and you do a controller replacement with a controller having an older software version, it would require a mandatory upgrade to v2.1.1.548 as well.
]]> StorSimple 5000/7000 Series: Critical Update (Software Version 2.1.1.518) Now Available https://docs.microsoft.com/archive/blogs/storsimple/storsimple-50007000-series-critical-update-software-version-2-1-1-518-now-available Wed, 26 Aug 2015 16:17:00 GMT https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/storsimple/2015/08/26/storsimple-50007000-series-critical-update-software-version-2-1-1-518-now-available/ A new critical update for StorSimple 5000 and 7000 series appliances, version 2.1.1.518 is now available for download. This release mitigates the NVRAM memory issues sometimes seen in appliances running v2.1.1.386 or earlier when the upgrade starts. Some features of the previous update (version 2.1.1.500) which are included in this release are:
  • Support for migration from the 5000/7000 series to the 8000 series appliance. Improved feature offerings of the 8000 series appliances include efficient centralized management of multiple appliances through the StorSimple Manager service, better class of hardware and updated firmware, virtual appliances, data mobility, as well as features in the future roadmap. With this release, you can export an encrypted configuration file from your 5000-7000 series appliance, enabling migration to the StorSimple 8000 series appliance. The file can be encrypted by a user-supplied or an automatically generated key.
  • Support for the latest Microsoft Azure Storage API. StorSimple 5000/7000 series devices using software versions older than 2.1.1.500 use a version of the Azure Storage Services APIs older than February 12, 2012. Versions 2.1.1.518 and .500 contain an upgrade to the latest version of the Storage service APIs. We strongly recommend upgrading to the latest software version, 2.1.1.518, to gain the benefits of the new features and improvements in this version.
  • Support for Azure ZRS (zone-redundant storage). StorSimple 5000/7000 series now supports Azure storage accounts created with the zone redundant replication option. Zone-redundant storage replicates your data across two to three facilities, either within a single region or across two regions, providing higher durability than locally redundant storage (LRS), at a lower cost point per unit of storage than the geo-redundant storage (GRS) offering. More information on Azure storage redundancy options is available as part of the Azure documentation here.
Notes:
  • Version 2.1.1.518 is a software only release and there is no firmware upgrade patch associated with it as with some previous releases. The most up-to-date firmware version continues to be v2.1.1.461. There is a link to this firmware version in the upgrade guide for software version 2.1.1.518. If you are unsure which firmware version is installed on your appliance, running the 2.1.1.461 upgrade is recommended. If the firmware is already the latest version, re-running the upgrade will not cause any issues. The upgrade process will detect that the latest version is already installed and will make no changes.
 
  • Version 2.1.1.518 is compatible with v2.1.1.500 only, and is not compatible with previous versions of appliance software as it contains a metadata change. For example, if your appliance is on v2.1.1.518 and you do a controller replacement with a controller having an older software version installed, that controller would require a mandatory upgrade to v2.1.1.518 as well.
]]> StorSimple 8000 Series Not Vulnerable to Leap Second Addition https://docs.microsoft.com/archive/blogs/storsimple/storsimple-8000-series-not-vulnerable-to-leap-second-addition Fri, 19 Jun 2015 10:14:00 GMT https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/storsimple/2015/06/19/storsimple-8000-series-not-vulnerable-to-leap-second-addition/ StorSimple 8000 series devices use Windows Time Service working as an NTP client. The Windows Time service does not indicate the value of the Leap Indicator when the Windows Time service receives a packet that includes a leap second. (The Leap Indicator indicates whether an impending leap second is to be inserted or deleted in the last minute of the current day.) Therefore, after the leap second occurs, the NTP client that is running Windows Time service is one second faster than the actual time. This time difference is resolved at the next time synchronization.

]]> StorSimple 5000/7000 Series: Critical Update (Software Version 2.1.1.500) Now Available https://docs.microsoft.com/archive/blogs/storsimple/storsimple-50007000-series-critical-update-software-version-2-1-1-500-now-available Mon, 11 May 2015 11:14:00 GMT https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/storsimple/2015/05/11/storsimple-50007000-series-critical-update-software-version-2-1-1-500-now-available/ A new critical update for StorSimple 5000 and 7000 series appliances, version 2.1.1.500  is now available for download.

 

The Key features of this release are:

  1. Support for Migration from 5000/7000 series  to 8000 series appliance

Improved feature offerings of the 8000 series appliances include efficient centralized management of multiple appliances through StorSimple Manager service, better class of hardware and updated firmware, virtual appliances, data mobility as well as features in the future roadmap. With this release, you can export an encrypted configuration file from their 5000-7000 series appliance, enabling migration to StorSimple 8000 series appliance. The file can be encrypted by a user-supplied or an automatically generated key.

       2.   Support for latest Microsoft Azure Storage API –

The Azure Storage Service API version currently used by StorSimple 8000 series devices will be deprecated on December 10, 2015, as per the announcement on removal of Storage Service versions. v2.1.1.500. contains an upgrade to the latest version of the Storage service APIs. It is critical  that you upgrade to v2.1.1.500  prior to December 9, 2015, failing which your StorSimple devices could stop functioning correctly after this date.

       3.   Support for Azure ZRS (Zone redundant storage)

StorSimple 5000/7000 series  now supports Azure storage accounts created with the ‘Zone Redundant’ replication option. Zone-redundant storage replicates your data across two to three facilities, either within a single region or across two regions, providing higher durability than Locally Redundant Storage (LRS), at a lower cost point per unit of storage than the Geo-Redundant Storage (GRS) offering. More information on Azure Storage Redundancy Options is available as part of MSDN documentation here.

 

Note:

1. v2.1.1.500 is a software only release and there is no Firmware upgrade patch associated with it as previous release. The most up-to-date firmware version continues to be v2.1.1.461. There is a link to this firmware version in the upgrade guide for software version v2.1.1.486. If you are unsure which firmware version is installed on your appliance, running the 2.1.1.461 upgrade is recommended. If the firmware is already the latest version, re-running the upgrade will not cause any harm – the upgrade process will detect that the latest version is already installed and will make no changes.

2. v2.1.1.500 is not compatible with previous versions of Appliance software as it contains a metadata change. For example, if your appliance is on  v2.1.1.500 and you do a controller replacement with a controller having an older software version, it would  require a mandatory  upgrade  to v2.1.1.500 as well.

]]> StorSimple 7000/8000 series not vulnerable to GHOST glibc (CVE-2015-0235) https://docs.microsoft.com/archive/blogs/storsimple/storsimple-70008000-series-not-vulnerable-to-ghost-glibc-cve-2015-0235 Tue, 17 Feb 2015 08:47:00 GMT https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/storsimple/2015/02/17/storsimple-70008000-series-not-vulnerable-to-ghost-glibc-cve-2015-0235/ Microsoft has been notified of a critical vulnerability in the glibc library shipped with Red Hat Enterprise Linux. We have analyzed the  impact on StorSimple 7000 and 8000 series devices, and we have determined that they are not vulnerable to attack. For more information about the  GHOST glibc vulnerability, go to CVE-2015-0235.

]]> StorSimple 5000/7000 Series: Software Version 2.1.1.486 is Now Available https://docs.microsoft.com/archive/blogs/storsimple/storsimple-50007000-series-software-version-2-1-1-486-is-now-available Thu, 18 Dec 2014 16:13:00 GMT https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/storsimple/2014/12/18/storsimple-50007000-series-software-version-2-1-1-486-is-now-available/ A new software version for StorSimple 5000 and 7000 series appliances, version 2.1.1.486, is now available for download.

Key Points:

  • Software Patch v2.1.1.486 is a software-only release. There is no firmware upgrade patch with version number 2.1.1.486.
  • The most up-to-date firmware version continues to be v2.1.1.461. There is a link to this firmware version in the upgrade guide for software version 2.1.1.486.
  • If you are unsure which firmware version is installed on your appliance, running the 2.1.1.461 upgrade is recommended. If the firmware is already the latest version, re-running the upgrade will not cause any harm – the upgrade process will detect that the latest version is already installed and will make no changes.

]]> StorSimple 7000 Series: Support Statement https://docs.microsoft.com/archive/blogs/storsimple/storsimple-7000-series-support-statement Mon, 01 Dec 2014 09:11:00 GMT https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/storsimple/2014/12/01/storsimple-7000-series-support-statement/ StorSimple continues to offer its popular industry-leading hybrid cloud storage appliances, the StorSimple 7000 series, which allow customers to manage data growth, simplify storage management and experience the benefits of cloud storage in a smaller capacity configuration. Microsoft is committed to providing fixes for any security-related vulnerability in the 7000 series, and will continue to offer firmware updates as necessary. Contact your Microsoft account team or send email to storagesales@microsoft.com for more information about how to purchase StorSimple solutions built on 7000 series appliances.

]]> StorSimple 8000 Series: New Update Available for 8100 and 8600 Appliances https://docs.microsoft.com/archive/blogs/storsimple/storsimple-8000-series-new-update-available-for-8100-and-8600-appliances Fri, 14 Nov 2014 11:15:58 GMT https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/storsimple/2014/11/14/storsimple-8000-series-new-update-available-for-8100-and-8600-appliances/ A new update has been released for the StorSimple 8100 and 8600 appliance models. It is highly recommended that customers apply this update to their 8000 series appliances at the earliest opportunity. Instructions for how to update your appliance are available here: StorSimple Administrator’s Guide – Install Updates and Hotfixes. A list of issues fixed and features added in this update can be found at this link.

]]> StorSimple 5000/7000 Series: End of Support for Software Version 2.0.1 https://docs.microsoft.com/archive/blogs/storsimple/storsimple-50007000-series-end-of-support-for-software-version-2-0-1 Thu, 06 Nov 2014 12:10:00 GMT https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/storsimple/2014/11/06/storsimple-50007000-series-end-of-support-for-software-version-2-0-1/ Software version 2.0.1 for StorSimple appliances reached its End of Support on June 30, 2013.

If your StorSimple appliance is running any of the software versions listed below, please contact StorSimple Support as soon as possible. There are a number of known issues with these versions that have been fixed in the current software release (2.1.1). The support team can help with planning and performing a software upgrade on your appliance so that you can avoid encountering any of the issues with older software. For more information about the fixes contained in newer software and firmware versions, please see the Release Notes page on our Online Help website.

Here is the list of StorSimple appliance software versions which have reached End of Support.

  • v2.0.1 (2.0.2-88)
  • v2.0.1 (2.0.2-84)
  • v2.0.1 (2.0.2-70)
  • v2.0.1 (2.0.2-48)

For any questions or concerns, please open a case with the support team using this link.

]]>